By Tom

November 13, 2008 1:36 PM | Link to this

“We’d rather err on the side of caution,”

Well, the team is winning with the people on the ice right now. No offense to Schneider but let’s give it as much time as we need to see if this chemistry is worth keeping.

By what?

November 13, 2008 2:32 PM | Link to this

Kari Lehtonen is expected to skate with the team Friday morning before the game against Philadelphia, coach John Anderson said.

Mike, Coach knows we’re playing the Canes on Friday, right?

By The Other J.B.

November 13, 2008 2:33 PM | Link to this

Kari Lehtonen is expected to skate with the team Friday morning before the game against Philadelphia, coach John Anderson said.

Not nitpicking, just curious since I think there’s a slight error here Mike… is Kari going to skate Friday before Carolina or Saturday before Philly?

By Tony C.

November 13, 2008 2:50 PM | Link to this

No, he skates friday, to make sure he can start Sat. Otherwise, we goto The Giant.

By Mike Knobler

November 13, 2008 3:27 PM | Link to this

My mistake. Not Anderson’s. I will fix in the original post.

By Jason

November 13, 2008 3:46 PM | Link to this

I would love to see the team come out and play a full 60 minutes of hockey against the Canes. Even though the Canes aren’t looking too good right now, you can bet they want some revenge from being embarassed at home by the lowly Thrashers, especially dman Tim Gleason after his comments about losing to us. So I want to see some intensity and urgency from the team in place of rust and being flat-footed.

Did they look any different to you in practice this week Knobler?

By ThrasherTim

November 13, 2008 3:48 PM | Link to this

Can’t wait to get down to Philips Friday night and see if the Thrash can continue this winning streak. Hall pass from the Mrs.!

I expect to see the Moose in net at home since he just beat the same team a few days ago. I wouldn’t expect any other changes in the lineup either. We have been winning with Valabik and Oystrick, so I imagine Coach will on Schneider for the Philly game and maybe longer if we win again Friday night and keep the goals against down.

I think Pavlec should start against Philly as we have nothing to lose against that team after the last showing. Maybe he can instill some confidence in the team with a couple of early key saves.

I think with Kari’s strange illness/back strain, we can stop the trade talk now. His value is lower than at any time since his last injury — I hope this is the last time I have to write that phrase. Honestly though, we need Kari to stay healthy and show his potential soon or else Pavs is the future and Kari will have to take his chances on the market. The rest of the league realizes that the Thrashers have won these games with him in the press box.

See everyone downtown tomorrow - hopefully it will be a solid turnout for the fan base. What’s the tag line for watching the team in maroon though? Become one in Ma-ROON land?

By The Other J.B.

November 13, 2008 4:01 PM | Link to this

Jason - I can’t speak for Mike, but I’ve been to practice twice this week and thought they looked pretty sharp. In my opinion, just as important, they looked like they were having fun too. Ondrej made a couple of beautiful glove saves this morning.

By Bob

November 13, 2008 5:02 PM | Link to this

I think with Kari’s strange illness/back strain, we can stop the trade talk now. His value is lower than at any time since his last injury

Good point.

I hope to make it to my first game tomorrow. And I may wear a bag over my head. Not because of the team’s play, they’re on a bit of a roll, but to shield my eyes from those unbelieveable fugly sweaters. What in the heck were they thinking?

By kracker

November 13, 2008 6:39 PM | Link to this

Only 24 hours and change till game time. I hate the long layoffs. Everybody needs to go on down if they can make it tomorrow, fill the barn for the guys.

By maali

November 13, 2008 9:58 PM | Link to this

a v random sidenote: in our current economy and especially considering the state of newspapers and publications, was layoff really the best word to use? :D i work in an industry where layoff is a daily word and not in terms of 5 days off work. time off? layabout? mini break!

By Jason

November 13, 2008 11:19 PM | Link to this

Thanks for the update The Other J.B.. Hope they come out sharp.

Looks like it would be a good night to go see the game live, as the team is on a winning streak, the weather is supposed to turn much colder(real hockey weather), and the game is not being shown on local tv. I was gonna go, but got someone supposedly coming to view my house at 6:30. So after that I guess I will try and stomach the Carolina broadcast on center ice.

By scottbravesfan

November 14, 2008 2:32 AM | Link to this

I can’t believe the game isn’t on TV. What a joke. Hopefully the team will win their fifth straight.

By ranallo10 (in AT)

November 14, 2008 4:17 AM | Link to this

maali — I think that’s getting too politically correct, even for the US.

By GaVaHokie

November 14, 2008 8:21 AM | Link to this

I can’t believe the game isn’t on TV. What a joke.

Agreed… what a blow to the team. They’re on a winning streak and not only have a 5 day layoff, but the next two games are not televised… last Sunday wasn’t either (13 days without a broadcast).

By Alan

November 14, 2008 9:51 AM | Link to this

I can’t believe the game isn’t on TV. What a joke.

Just goes to show how seriously the “Thrashers Television Network” takes hockey. It really is a joke, and it doesn’t matter whether we’ve lost six straight or won four straight, the games need to be televised. And I’m not really speaking from a “selfish” point of view, so much as I’m speaking from a “marketing the game” point of view. How the hell else will the vast majority of metro Atlantans find out about how awesome hockey is if it’s not marketed, televised, or even mentioned in the front half of the Sports section (hint, AJC editors, quit relegating hockey to the nether regions of the paper!).

By drew

November 14, 2008 9:52 AM | Link to this

Trade Lehtonen. Get some offense and/or some picks. I am getting a little tired of the Fragile Finn

By Joe the Plumber

November 14, 2008 9:55 AM | Link to this

I think with Kari’s strange illness/back strain, we can stop the trade talk now. His value is lower than at any time since his last injury

Could it be that he’s not really hurt and they are holding him out so he doesn’t get hurt before the trade is complete or that they can see how Ondrej and Johan do without him? What can I say I like asking obvious questions.

By Guy in 413

November 14, 2008 10:20 AM | Link to this

Can’t wait for the game tonight. I will be there. I hope they start Pavlec, that guy has looked very good these past few games. Go Thrashers!

By ranallo10 (in AT)

November 14, 2008 11:09 AM | Link to this

I am getting a little tired of the Fragile Finn

I guess with a nickname like that you can’t exactly expect to get much in return, can you?

Waddell — “Hello, I’m calling to see if you’re interested in my goalie who has been injured at least once in each of his professional hockey season’s played.”

Other GM — “Oh, Kari ‘Fragile Finn’ Lehtonen? SURE, what would you like in return?”

Waddell — “I was thinking some offense and/or some picks.”

Other GM — “For an injury prone goalie? How about I send you a 6-pack of PBR and you give Lehtonen three of them for the plane ride to my city? If you want more than a 6-pack I’ll give Montreal or Edmonton a call and get Roloson, Garon, or Halak for half that offer.”

Waddell — “Sure, three beers is better than our most talented but somewhat injury prone goalie, you’ve got a deal.”

Waddell (aside) — “Hmmm, I sure hope Atlanta fans like me now…I only do things to appease them and remove their sources of frustration, because that’s how a good GM runs a franchise — or so I’ve heard.”

By Chris

November 14, 2008 11:25 AM | Link to this

Elitist and a smart @ss.

By Brendan

November 14, 2008 11:58 AM | Link to this

Admit it, folks. Trading Lehtonen doesn’t make any sense. I’m broken on this topic now. So, I’ll change it up a little this time. Think Giguere, for a moment. It took him seven years to produce even one (1) halfway decent season. Most teams would have quit on him, dismissing him as “can’t cut it” at the NHL level. The Ducks stuck with him, in spite of it all, and he got them to two Stanley Cup Finals, won one of them, and took home the Conn Smythe Trophy in the other. Giguere was a late bloomer. And there are those who would, even today, suggest he’s overrated, and perhaps, not the goalie to hang your hopes on.

Sigh. There are lots and lots of opinions about goalies. I even hear some people say, “Brodeur is hardly the best goalie of all-time.” Maybe he isn’t. There’s a lot of room for arguments for and against a particular goalie for this distinction, but the point is … some opinions are wildly offbase.

By ranallo10 (in AT)

November 14, 2008 12:25 PM | Link to this

Brendan — I tend to agree with Ken Holland regarding the value of goalies, where as long as your goalie can keep you in a game it doesn’t matter how good he is in relation to the league.

Giguere can keep his team in a game, so thus he’s a fine goalie if he’s your best option. Detroit won the Stanley Cup with Chris Osgood…proving it’s unnecessary to have a superstar goalie in order to win The Cup. Luongo, arguably the best goalie in the league (I’d say he’s a close second to Brodeur), has never won a Stanley Cup.

I wouldn’t seek Giguere, Ward, Roloson, or Osgood if they were on the Free Agent market…but I wouldn’t complain if they were the goalie for my favorite team.

Personally I enjoy watching Lehtonen play, and have no problem having him in goal for the foreseeable future. I also enjoyed Pavelec, so I’m content with either one leading this team in net.

By Brendan

November 14, 2008 1:20 PM | Link to this

That’s exactly right, Ranallo. Either Pavelec or Lehtonen leading this team as the #1 goalie … is absolutely fine. And, it’s pretty good to have either Pavelec or Lehtonen as the backup goalie. That’s a “decent” 1-2 punch in net. There’s no reason to trade either one of them. Now, there might be an argument over why keep Moose? But, I still would keep Moose, as a mentor, up in the pressbox. Whenever the next Lehtonen injury is, Hedberg comes down to be the backup. And every 12 games or so, you give him a start, just to toss him a bone. I think that formula would work. This concept has also been advanced by Hokie as well. Sometimes, it really does take 3 goalies.

No good?

By Joe the Plumber

November 14, 2008 1:23 PM | Link to this

Think Giguere, for a moment. It took him seven years to produce even one (1) halfway decent season. Most teams would have quit on him, dismissing him as “can’t cut it” at the NHL level. The Ducks stuck with him, in spite of it all, and he got them to two Stanley Cup Finals, won one of them, and took home the Conn Smythe Trophy in the other. Giguere was a late bloomer.

How many times was Giguere hurt in his first 7 years?

By Brendan

November 14, 2008 1:39 PM | Link to this

I think … only once, JTP.

By Joe the Plumber

November 14, 2008 1:47 PM | Link to this

Giguere was a late bloomer.

How many times was Giguere hurt in his first 7 years?

I think … only once, JTP.

Do you think fans here are disappointed because Kari is a late bloomer or because Kari gets injured?

By ranallo10 (in AT)

November 14, 2008 2:19 PM | Link to this

Do you think fans here are disappointed because Kari is a late bloomer or because Kari gets injured?

I’ll take option C, because Lehtonen represents a selection by Waddell that hasn’t worked out PERFECTLY yet.

They complained about Coburn before he was traded for that same reason, and now use him as an example of why Waddell doesn’t know talent from a hole in the ground when it comes to trades.

Many fans in these parts will find any reason possible to be upset with the team. Right now, in the midst of a winning streak, they decide it’s Lehtonen’s injured back and blue hair that disappoints them. So they shift their ire towards him.

At least, that’s how I see the cycle of blame work in these parts.

By Brendan

November 14, 2008 3:00 PM | Link to this

I think “cycles of blame” are likely to continue until the franchise really does something memorable. Sometimes, for the benefit of those who are new to these parts, it’s important to add, I think Waddell should be fired, but I don’t blame him for things that aren’t or weren’t his fault. This way, people know you’re not defending Don Waddell’s track record. Now, obviously, you’ve been on record that ownership’s failure to observe Waddell’s track record and take appropriate action therewith, is inexcuseable.

By ranallo10 (in AT)

November 14, 2008 3:40 PM | Link to this

I think “cycles of blame” are likely to continue until the franchise really does something memorable.

I don’t know, the cycles of blame in my opinion will never end. The Thrashers make the playoffs, but people complains about them selling the farm to do so. The Thrashers do poorly and people considers Waddell slacking for not doing enough (remember the “Waddell fiddles while Atlanta burns” comments?).

I think the current cycle of blame will not cease until Waddell is fired, upon which time there will be a temporary lull in the blame, until a new scape goat emerges. Rightfully so the next to be blamed will be the ASG, after the bring in a replacement GM who also does nothing memorable.

It’ll take two GMs worth of failures before many people will realize the ownership group we’re stuck with for the foreseeable future. In Toronto (the masters of self pity), at least they’ve come to realize they’re stuck with the MLSE, through good times or bad. Unfortunately for them, bad times have stretched to 40 years now, but things are slightly brighter that usual in the distance.

By ranallo10 (in AT)

November 14, 2008 3:50 PM | Link to this

Holy typos Batman!

By Brendan

November 14, 2008 4:09 PM | Link to this

It very well could be, Ranallo. But we’ll never know until the AS, LLC actually does something about the GM position. Maybe the next guy is just as hampered by them as Waddell was. Or, maybe the new guy isn’t any better. Or, maybe the next guy actually succeeds, despite the ownership? If the AS, LLC, would just pony up, then disappear … then I’d say … they’re doing EXACTLY what an ownership group should do. Namely, to empower the GM to make the necessary decisions. Now, if the GM makes bad decisions with that money, then the GM should be fired. If the GM makes good decisions with that money, then he should be renewed, if that’s even something the GM will consider doing. Hey, a GM is free to pursue other options, just like a player is, once the contract expires.

In 2005, the owners provided a maxed out cap situation for the hockey GM. If they’d follow along that path, for the next few years, it would garner the attention of the sports agents who represent Tier I players. Likewise, if the owners found an upper echelon GM to run the show, that would also attract their attention. The potential result would be … Tier I talent would seriously consider the Atlanta market. That’s my opinion, anyway.

By Joe the Plumber

November 14, 2008 4:50 PM | Link to this

Does everyone here feel that this current group with Kovalchuk, Kozlov, Little, Hainsey, Enstrom, Bogosian and the rest have no chance to do anything memorable?